The Ministry of Jal Shakti held the 20th meeting of its Empowered Task Force on Ganga Rejuvenation in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Union Minister C.R. Paatil. The meeting reviewed the progress of the Namami Gange Programme, which aims to restore the ecological health of the Ganga river and its tributaries through improved infrastructure, wastewater management, and restoration projects across multiple states.
Key facts
- As of August 2026, the Namami Gange Programme has sanctioned 527 projects worth Rs 43,266 crore, with 368 completed
- Under sewerage infrastructure, 219 projects sanctioned have created 6,603 MLD (million litres per day) treatment capacity and 5,245 km of sewer network
- Of these sewerage projects, 147 are completed, creating 4,339 MLD capacity and 4,615 km of sewer network
- Revised DPR for Barauni Sewage Treatment Plant in Bihar sent to IIT-BHU for appraisal; Shantipur STPs in West Bengal approved
- Bihar and West Bengal have notified policies on reusing treated wastewater; Jharkhand awaiting State Cabinet approval
- Two academic courses developed on urban river management being offered at universities in Surat, New Delhi and Bhopal
- Gomti Udgam Sthal rejuvenation project in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh received administrative approval on 17 September 2026
- Niranjana/Falgu River rejuvenation initiative in Bihar under examination, with State-level Nodal Officer appointed
What the Namami Gange Programme covers
The Namami Gange Programme is a Government of India initiative to restore the ecological balance of the Ganga river system. Beyond building sewage treatment plants and sewer networks, it includes bioremediation, solid waste management, industrial effluent treatment, surveillance and monitoring, biodiversity conservation, afforestation, livelihood generation and public awareness work.
Progress on sewage infrastructure and wastewater reuse
The programme has prioritised building sewage treatment capacity across river cities. Of the 219 sewerage projects sanctioned, more than two-thirds have been completed. The focus now includes safe reuse of treated wastewater, with Bihar and West Bengal having already issued state policies to encourage recycling treated sewage for agriculture and other purposes. This helps reduce freshwater demand on the river and improves its flow.
Major river rejuvenation sites under review
The task force reviewed progress on several critical rejuvenation sites. The Gomti Udgam Sthal (source area) in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh received formal approval for lake restoration and a 1 MLD nature-based sewage treatment system on 17 September 2026. Habitat restoration for turtles and other work is under consideration. For the Niranjana and Falgu rivers in Bihar, the state has appointed a nodal officer to examine costs and quantities before work begins.
Along the Yamuna river, projects in Uttar Pradesh cities including Mathura, Vrindavan, Agra, Firozabad and Etawah focus on strengthening sewage collection and treatment. In Delhi, the task force is working on wastewater management, wetland restoration, pollution monitoring using drones, and boosting environmental flows through specific treatment plants.
Water education and skilled workforce development
The meeting highlighted new academic courses on river management developed jointly by the National Mission for Clean Ganga and the National Institute of Urban Affairs. Two courses, “Principles of Urban River Management” and “Eco-friendly Waterfront Development,” are now being taught at Mitraj Sarvajanik in Surat, O.P. Jindal Global University in Delhi and the School of Planning and Architecture in Bhopal. These cover river morphology, stormwater management, riparian ecology and climate-resilient design. The minister called for promoting these courses at city and state levels to build a professional cadre trained in river restoration work.
Public participation and outreach
The task force reviewed cleanliness drives and awareness campaigns held across river cities since the last meeting. These included activities during Swachhta Hi Seva 2026 and World River Day, involving community participation in river conservation. National-level consultation workshops were organised in New Delhi, Pune and Guwahati during July and August 2026 to develop scientific approaches to rejuvenating small rivers and watercourses.
In October 2026, the India International Water Week launched the Sustainable Urban River Management Framework and a protocol for monitoring microplastics in rivers, aimed at strengthening scientific monitoring of emerging pollution challenges.
What this means for you
Citizens and businesses in river cities will see improved sewage collection and treatment infrastructure over time, reducing pollution in local water bodies. Students and professionals interested in water management now have access to specialised courses at leading institutions. States like Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand are moving toward policies that allow safe reuse of treated sewage, which can reduce water scarcity for agriculture. Communities participating in river conservation work are being recognised and supported by the government.
What happens next
The minister directed agencies and state governments to complete ongoing projects on time and resolve pending design approvals, land acquisition issues and other implementation delays. Work on approved Gomti Udgam Sthal interventions is to begin immediately, with emphasis on timely bidding and formation of state-level steering committees. Bihar has been asked to confirm cost estimates for the Niranjana rejuvenation project at the earliest to enable further approvals.